Improvement in piano-fortes



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEreE.

SPENCER T. PARMELEE, OF NEV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

lMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,703, dated June 24, 1862.

- which- Figure l is a top view, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, of a portion of the metallic string-frame of a piano-forte as provided with my invention, the nature of which consists in constructing the wrest-pin plate of the metallic or iron frame with a metallic projection to receive and sustain each of the straining-pin bushings, in manner as hereinafter specified; also, in making each of the bushing-sockets with an opening extending out of its bottom, and below the bushing, in manner as and for the purpose hereinafter explained; also, in arranging string holes or passages through the bridge and directly underneath the junctions of the braces and the bridge, in combination with arranging the hitch-pins directly linderneath the braces, substantially as represented and described, whereby either one or more of the strings may be brought directly underneath each of the braces ofthe frame, in manner and for the purpose as hereinafter specified 5 also, in the arrangement and combination of an arched bridge with the socket-plate and each brace in manner substantially as hereinafter explained, the bridge thereby serving to connect the plate with the brace; also, in insulating each straining-pin from the iron frame by means of a wooden bushing or its equivalent.

In the said drawings, A and B denote the wrest and hitch pin plates ofthe metallic frame of a piano-forte, C being one of the metallic braces, which usually extend from one to the other of these plates.

In carrying out my invention a semi-tubular or arch-shaped bridge, D, is projected directly from the wrest-pin plate, in manner as shown in the drawings, the two being cast in one piece. The brace C springs from the upper surface of this bridge, and thence passes horizontally to and is joined with the hitchpin plate B. Immediately underneath the joint of the brace andthe bridge the holes c for the string E are made through the bridge,

they being arranged above the level of the bearing-edge d, against which they rest. The string after having been hitched on the pin I), which is placed directly underneath the brace and in front of its connection with the plate B, is carried through the holes of the bridge, and has its two ends passed, respectively, through the straining-pins F F. Each of these pins passes into a wooden tube or bushing, @,which is inserted in a socket, f, made downward in the plate A and a projection or bar, G, cast with and extending from the said plate A, as shown in the drawings. The bushing-socket is formed with a bottom or shoulder, g, which aids in supporting the bushing,and prevents it from being forced downward when the straining-pin is pressed into it. A hole, h, is also made through the bottom ofthe bushing-socket, the said hole having a diameter somewhat greater than that of the bore of the bushing. This hole enables the bushing to be expelled from its socket by means of an instrumentiorced upward through the hole and against the lower end ofthe bushing. The bushing should iit closely and be glued or cemented into themetallic socket. By having the wooden bushing support-ed throughout its entire length by 1netal,instead of'going th rough the plate A,and a plank or bar of wood screwed to the plate, in the place of the projection G, the bushing, as well as the straining-pin, will not only be better supported, but the straining-pin will be less liable to wear its bushing, so as to become loose therein. rlhus by means of the cast-metal projection G the tendency of the instrument to get out of tune is diminished and the ordinary wrest-pin plank dispensed with. The wrestpin plank is also liable to bc split by the strain of the pins-an accident not liable to happen to the projection G.

In the iron frame of pianofortes as heretofore constructed the arrangement of the bridge has been such with respect to the braces and pin-plates as to render it impossible to arrange a string and its hitch-pin directly underneath and parallel to the brace, the strings being disposed aside ofthe braces, or in such manner as to make it necessary to use angular instead of straight key-levers; but with my invention these latter can be employed,as the string can run directly underneath a brace.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the brace, the strings, and the key-levers as ordinarily made and arranged. Fig. 4 exhibits the same in side view.

ln these drawings, A denotes the brace; B, the straining-pin plate; e e e e, the strings; F F, the keylevers; f, the bridge; E, the Wrestpin plank; d d, the straining-pins, and c c the L screws for connecting the plate B to the said plank. From these figures it will be seen that the strings run alongside of the brace, Which extends below them. The key-levers are also shown as having the required angular 4form, as above mentioned.

The arched or semi-tubular bridge used by me and the arrangement of it with respect to the braces not only admits of the above favorable disposition of the strings, but is advantageous in several other respects.

I claiml. Constructing the Wrest-pin plate of the metallic string-frame with a metallic projection, G, to receive and support each of the straining-pin bushings, in manner as specified.

2. Making each of the bushingsockets with an opening, h, extending out of its bottom and with respect to the bushing, as set forth.

3. Arranging the string holes or passages through the bridge and directly underneath the junctions of each of the braces and the bridge, in combination with arranging the hitch-pin of the string underneath the bridge, all substantially as described.

4. The arrangement or combination of the arched bridge with the socket-plate and each of the braces, in manner substantially as described, the bridge thereby serving to connect the brace and the plate.

5. Insulating each straining-pin from the iron frame by means of a wooden bushing or its equivalent.

SPENCER T. PARMELEE.

Vitnesses:

ANDREW Y. PARMELE. HENRY S. PARMELEE. 

